Clustering a new initiative for better productivity
By Esubalew Dires
The Organization for Rehabilitation & Development in Amhara (ORDA) & International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) are implementing Harvest Plus project funded by SIDA. They carried out developmental interventions to boost productivity of smallholder agriculturalists and get landless youths engaged on various income generation activities. Hence, due to its fruitful achievements in pilot areas of the project, SIDA agreed with ORDA to extend the project for two more years. The project is being implemented to benefit 9,600 households (20% FHH) to sustainably improve their productivity and create jobs for 3,600 landless youths and women (20%) in 24 kebeles of districts of Tehuledere and Ambasel at South Wollo and Dewa Chefa & Bati at Oromia administrative zones.
In project intervention woredas, farmers are delivered a variety of improved cereals such as tef (cross 387/kuncho), maize (BH 540), oil crop (Arerti), peanut (Worer 961 & 962), mung bean (Green & oval), vegetable seeds and fruit seedlings. Far beyond, the project engaged jobless women and youths on cattle fattening, dairy, apiary, sheep breeding and fattening, poultry and assisted beneficiaries to establish village-based loan and saving groups.
In 2015/16 production year, the project supported 1,989 farmers of Dewa Chefa (of which 228 FHHs) and covered 336 hectares of land with varied crops. Over 1 thousand 960 farmers (331 FHHs) covered 376 hectares of land in Ambasel woreda. 200 hectares of land has been covered with mungbean, sesame, tomato and other fruits comprising 2 thousand 613 farmers (613 FHHS) in Bati woreda. However, beneficiaries could earn very little due to the negative impact of El Niño that drastically hammers the district alike other areas in the country.
In the same token, 10.5 quintals of Maize (BH 540), 55 quintals of Tef, 8 quintal of Mungbean, 76 quintal of chickpea, 60 quintal of onion, 315 k.g of carrot seed, 27 quintal of garlic, 964 mango, 2,934 orange, 537 avocado fruit seedlings has been delivered to 3,387 beneficiaries (276 FHHs) covering 487 hectares of land in Tehulederie woreda.
Semato watershed is among interventions of Harvest Plus. The project delivered farmers crop varieties that are diseases resist, early maturing and better productive. Though unpredicted and erratic rainfall collapsed the 2015/2016 production in different areas, Tehulederie has outshined in clustering- a new initiative for better productivity. Kebeles of Jari 05, Gobeya 012, Hara 010, Gedera 018 and Ketie 05 farmlands were amazingly covered by tef (cross 387/kuncho) and maize (BH 540) improved crop varieties. Farmers expect better production this year than they used to harvest before. The clustered land of tef has been looking like the sky is the limit. Undoubtedly, intervention areas of Tehuledere woreda has escaped from drought that affected diverse areas for the fact that Harvest Plus project delivered early maturing crop varieties.
Farmers claimed before they got into production, they are given trainings on appropriate planting season, input use, seeding rate, row seeding and pesticides management.
Farmer Mehammed Ali, a resident at Ketie 05 kebele Zebdeso village, is beneficiary of the project since 2014. In 2015/16, the project supported him 6.25 kg maize and 5 kg tef. He expected 5 and 8 quintals of maize and tef production respectively. Beneficiary farmers witnessed those crop varieties are very much productive, disease tolerant and early-maturing suited to a range of agro-ecosystems and farming practices and resilient to climate change. Most importantly, the occurrence of inadequate and poorly distributed rainfall resulted in farmers to face with harvests that are too small to both feed their families and fulfill their other commitments. However, the communication and IT team of ORDA ensured the supply of improved seeds benefited farmers in Tehuledere. Farmlands of tef are really eye-catching and the project made a difference as compared to the local crops that are sparsely seen in some areas. It is noted that Woreda Office of Agriculture takes many farmers and officers to share the project’s achievement. Like other beneficiaries, farmer Mehammed is also member of "Nebro" village-based loan and saving group. The group encompasses 20 households (10 FHHs) that members saved 4 thousand birr since its onset.
W/ro Aminat Muhe is member of Ketie 05 kebele Semato Watershed. She gained surplus production in 2014 from tomato, potato and cabbage. Farmer Aminat exclaimed she earned money from a sale of her agricultural products over securing food of the family.
Moreover, Harvest Plus has given due attention on livestock rearing and fattening and climate change resilient strategies to benefit smallholder agriculturalists and unemployed youths. The project has brought solar lights in widely dispersed villages. They are also trained on how to save money in village saving and loan group.
Young farmer Mehammed Yimam is also among beneficiaries of the project who is changing his life rapidly. He owns a pair of oxen produces enough for the family and earns money from fruits and vegetables. He said, “I’m on the move to build a resident/home at Hayk- the capital of the district.”
We paused the same question whether they are committed to sustainably carryout developmental activities after phasing out of the project. Farmers verified “ORDA and IIRR played a pivotal role to improve our livelihood and it would be good if the project continued till we fully develop our capacity. Nevertheless, we don’t refrain back even though it phased out. We are very much curious to development.”
Finally, we departed after thanking and recommending beneficiaries to use/share better agricultural technologies and experiences among themselves.